Conversion of a cyclooxygenase (CO) inhibitor into a 5-lipoxygenase (LO) inhibitor: a general route to novel orally active anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy drugs.

Previously, the conversion of a CO inhibitor, naproxen, into an orally active 5-LO inhibitor, Wy-50,295, by covalent attachment of a quinoline group was reported. The authors now report the extension of this transformation to other CO inhibitors. Replacement of an existing substituent or a hydrogen in sulindac, etodolac, carprofen, diclofenac, oxaprozin, des-alpha-methyl-ketoprofen, or des-alpha-methyl-flurbiprofen by a methoxyquinoline group afforded new hybrid structures which were orally active 5-LO inhibitors in the rat RPAR (reverse passive Arthus reaction) assay. In contrast to Wy-50,295 which is a selective 5-LO inhibitor, some of these new hybrids were dual inhibitors of 5-LO and CO. For example, the quinoline-etodolac hybrid WAY-120,739, (1,8-diethyl-1,3,4,9-tetrahydro-6-(2-quinolinylmethoxy)pyrano [3,4-b]indole-1-acetic acid) was a dual inhibitor of 5-LO and CO (91% and 47% inhibition, respectively at 10 microM, rat PMN). In contrast, the quinoline-flurbiprofen hybrid WAY-121,006, (3-fluoro-4'-(2-quinolinylmethoxy)-[1,1'-biphenyl]-4-acetic acid), the quinoline-oxaprozin hybrid, WAY-120,460, (5-phenyl-4-[4-(2- quinolinylmethoxy)phenyl]-2-oxazolepropanoic acid) and the quinoline-carprofen hybrid WAY-120,429 (alpha-methyl-6-(2-quinolinylmethoxy)-9-(2-quinolinylmethoxy)-9H- carbazole-2-acetic acid) were purely 5-LO inhibitors (100%, 96% and 92% inhibition of 5-LO at 10 microM, rat PMN, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

N-[(arylmethoxy)phenyl] carboxylic acids, hydroxamic acids, tetrazoles, and sulfonyl carboxamides. Potent orally active leukotriene D4 antagonists of novel structure.

Four series of N-[(arylmethoxy)phenyl] compounds were prepared as leukotriene D4 (LTD4) antagonists. In the hydroxamic acid series, methyl 3-(2-quinolinylmethoxy)benzeneacetohydroxamate (Wy-48,422, 20) was the most potent inhibitor of LTD4-induced bronchoconstriction with an oral ED50 of 7.9 mg/kg. Compound 20 also orally inhibited ovalbumin-induced bronchoconstriction in the guinea pig with an ED50 of 3.6 mg/kg. In vitro, against LTD4-induced contraction of isolated guinea pig trachea pretreated with indomethacin and 1-cysteine, 20 produced a pKB value of 6.08. In the sulfonyl carboxamide series, N-[(4-methylphenyl)sulfonyl]-3-(2-quinolinylmethoxy)-benzamide (Wy-49,353, 30) was the most potent antagonist. Compound 30 orally inhibited both LTD4- and ovalbumin-induced bronchoconstriction with ED50s of 0.4 and 20.2 mg/kg, respectively. In vitro, against LTD4-induced contraction of isolated guinea pig trachea, 30 produced a pKB value of 7.78. In the carboxylic acid series, which served as intermediates for the above two series, 3-(2-quinolinylmethoxy)benzeneacetic acid (Wy-46,016, 5) was the most potent inhibitor of LTD4-induced bronchoconstriction (99% at 25 mg/kg, intraduodenally); however, the pKB for this compound was disappointing (5.79). In the tetrazole series, the most potent inhibitor was 2-[[3-(1H-tetrazol-5-ylmethyl)phenoxy]methyl]quinoline (Wy-49,451, 41). The respective inhibitory ED50s were 3.0 mg/kg versus LTD4 and 17.5 mg/kg versus ovalbumin. In the isolated guinea pig trachea, 41 produced a pKB value of 6.70.

N-[(arylmethoxy)phenyl] and N-[(arylmethoxy)naphthyl] sulfonamides: potent orally active leukotriene D4 antagonists of novel structure.

Two series of compounds, N-[(arylmethoxy)phenyl] sulfonamides and N-[(arylmethoxy)naphthyl] sulfonamides, were prepared as leukotriene D4 (LTD4) antagonists. In the phenyl series, N-[3-(2-quinolinylmethoxy)phenyl]-trifluoromethanesulfonamide (Wy-48,252, 16) was the most potent inhibitor of LTD4-induced bronchoconstriction in the guinea pig. With an intragastric ID50 of 0.1 mg/kg (2-h pretreatment), 16 was 300 times more potent than LY-171,883. Compound 16 also intragastrically inhibited ovalbumin-induced bronchoconstriction in the guinea pig with an ID50 of 0.6 mg/kg. In vitro against LTD4-induced contraction of isolated guinea pig trachea pretreated with indomethacin and L-cysteine, 16 produced a pKB value of 7.7. In the rat PMN assay 16 inhibited both 5-lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase (IC50's = 4.6 and 3.3 microM). In the naphthyl series, N-[7-(2-quinolinylmethoxy)-2-naphthyl]trifluoromethanesulfonamide (Wy-48,090, 47) in addition to potent LTD4 antagonist activity (on isolated guinea pig trachea 47 had a pKB value of 7.04) also had antiinflammatory activity (63% inhibition at 50 mg/kg in the rat carrageenan paw edema assay and 34% inhibition of TPA-induced inflammation at 1 mg/ear in the mouse ear edema model). Perhaps the antiinflammatory activity of 47 was due to its additional activity of inhibiting both 5-lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase enzymes (IC50's = 0.23 and 11.9 microM, respectively, in rat PMN).

Phenylephrine derivatives as leukotriene D4 antagonists.

Two series of phenylephrine derivatives were prepared and tested as inhibitors of leukotriene D4 (LTD4) induced and ovalbumin-induced bronchospasm in the guinea pig. The most potent compound of the urea series, (R)-N,N-diethyl-N-[2-hydroxy-2-[3-(2-quinolinylmethoxy)phenyl]ethyl]-N- methylurea (3, Wy-47,120), was orally active with ED50's of 56 mg/kg vs. LTD4 and 55 mg/kg vs. ovalbumin. When tested as an antagonist of LTD4-induced contraction of isolated guinea pig tracheal strips, 3 was a competitive inhibitor with a p kappa B value of 5.22. In the second series, (R)-3-methyl-5-[3-(2-quinolinylmethoxy)phenyl]-2-oxazolidinone (26, Wy-47,674) had oral ED50's of 36 mg/kg against LTD4 and 95 mg/kg against ovalbumin. Compound 26 selectively antagonized contractile responses of guinea pig trachea evoked by LTD4 (p kappa B = 6.09). In the cat coronary artery, 3 dilated the preparation and blocked the coronary constrictor effect of LTD4. Compound 3 (0.13 mg/kg, iv) also preserved myocardial integrity in rats 48 h after coronary artery ligation. When tested in the rat alcohol-induced gastric lesion model, 3 and 26 manifested a dose-dependent mucosal protection against ethanol.

Leukotriene D4 antagonists and 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors. Synthesis of benzoheterocyclic [(methoxyphenyl)amino]oxoalkanoic acid esters.

A series of novel benzoheterocyclic [(methoxyphenyl)amino]oxoalkanoic acid esters has been prepared. These compounds were tested as inhibitors of rat polymorphonuclear leukocyte 5-lipoxgenase (LO) in vitro and as inhibitors of leukotriene D4 (LTD4) and ovalbumin (OA) induced bronchospasm in the guinea pig (GP) in vivo. In general, inhibitory activity against 5-LO, LTD4, and OA was broadest for benzthiazole-containing analogues (benzthiazole greater than benzimidazole much greater than benzoxazole, benzofuran). The most potent 5-LO inhibitor, 4-[[3-(2-benzthiazolylmethoxy)-phenyl]hydroxyamino]-4-oxobutanoic acid methyl ester (7), had an IC50 of 0.36 microM. Compound 7, however, was inactive vs. OA. The most potent compound in vivo, 4-[[3-[(1-methyl-2-benzimidazolyl)methoxy]phenyl]-amino] -4-oxobutanoic acid methyl ester 4, inhibited both LTD4- and OA-induced bronchospasm by 83% and 60%, respectively, at 50 mg/kg intraduodenally. Compound 4 was studied in the Ames assay employing five strains of bacteria (TA1535, TA1537, TA1538, TA98, and TA100) with and without S-9 rat liver enzyme metabolic activation, and there was no significant number of reversions noted.

Synthesis of [[(naphthalenylmethoxy)- and [[(quinolinylmethoxy)phenyl]amino]oxoalkanoic acid esters. A novel series of leukotriene D4 antagonists and 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors.

A series of novel [[(naphthalenylmethoxy)- and [[(quinolinylmethoxy)phenyl]amino]oxoalkanoic acid esters have been prepared. These compounds were tested as inhibitors of rat polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) 5-lipoxygenase (LO) in vitro and as inhibitors of ovalbumin (OA) and leukotriene D4 (LTD4) induced bronchospasm in the guinea pig (GP) in vivo. Many naphthalenyl compounds were potent inhibitors of 5-LO, and several quinolinyl compounds were potent inhibitors of LTD4-mediated bronchospasms in the GP. The most potent naphthalenyl compound, 4-[[3-(2-naphthalenylmethoxy)phenyl]hydroxyamino]-4-oxobutanoic acid, methyl ester (6v), had an IC50 of 0.6 microM in the 5-LO assay. The most potent compound in vivo, 4-[[3-(2-quinolinylmethoxy)phenyl]hydroxyamino]-4-oxobutanoic acid, methyl ester (6e), had ED50's of 3.3 mg/kg and 27.4 mg/kg (intraduodenally) against LTD4- and OA-induced bronchospasm, respectively. When tested as an antagonist of LTD4-induced contraction of isolated GP tracheal spiral strips, 6e was shown to be a competitive inhibitor with a pKB value of 5.33.